Regency Buck (Alastair-Audley Tetralogy 3)

Mr Farnaby, in the grip of a second constable, showed a disposition to resist. ‘Who set you on?’ he demanded.

‘Acting on information received,’ was the curt reply. ‘Now give me that pistol, sir! It ain’t no use resisting.’

An unwelcome suspicion crossed Peregrine’s mind. He said quickly: ‘Do you know who lodged the information?’

‘No, nor it ain’t my business,’ answered the constable.‘You put on your coat, sir, and come with us.’

Mr Fitzjohn went to lend Peregrine a hand. ‘Do you suspect someone?’ he asked in an under-voice.

‘By God I do, and I mean to know the truth!’

‘Who knew of it?’

‘My cousin,’ said Peregrine. ‘But I did not tell him the place of rendezvous – of that I am perfectly certain! How he found that out, if it was he –’

‘But, Perry, surely he wouldn’t inform the magistrates if you told him in confidence, which I suppose you must have?’

‘I don’t know, but I shall find out!’ said Peregrine, buttoning up his greatcoat.

Mr Fitzjohn turned with sudden suspicion to the doctor, who was standing beside them. ‘I take it you know nothing of this, Lane?’

The doctor replied in a dry tone: ‘I did not lay information against your principal, sir, but I am forced to admit that it may be through me that this duel has been interrupted. If it was so I cannot regret it, though I certainly did not intend it.’

‘What the devil do you mean?’ said Mr Fitzjohn.

The doctor tucked his case of instruments under his arm. ‘Yesterday, sir,’ he said, ‘not long after you called on me, I received a visit from another gentleman requiring my services in an affair of honour to-day. I told him that it was quite out of my power, since I was already engaged. He gave me to understand that he was acting as second to your opponent – a fact I could readily believe, as it would be an odd, almost an unprecedented occurrence, for two duels to be fought in London upon the same day. I informed this gentleman that I could not disclose the name of my principal, though I should have no objection to attending his man as well if he should prove to be the unknown adversary. He realised the propriety of my scruples, and at once made it plain to me that he was conversant with your affair by giving me the names of yourself and Sir Peregrine Taverner. I said that I should be happy to do what I could for his principal, and, as I recollect, we fell into some slight conversation, during the course of which I might easily mention the place of rendezvous. When your opponent came on to the ground, sir, and I perceived his friend to be totally unlike my visitor, I own I felt surprise. But upon reflection I could not recollect that my visitor actually stated that he was acting as a second in the affair, and I concluded that I had misunderstood him, and that he had come to me in place of the second.’

‘What was he like?’ demanded Peregrine, who had listened to this speech with considerable impatience. ‘Was he tall, rather dark, and elegantly dressed?’

‘Yes,’ said the doctor. ‘Certainly he was tall. I should describe him as very dark. He was a gentleman-like man, quiet in his manner, and with a pronounced air of fashion.’

‘I knew it!’ said Peregrine. ‘My cousin to the life!’

At this point one of the constables came up to request their following him to the coach. They could only obey, and in a few minutes the whole party was being driven off to the nearest magistrate.

It was fully an hour before the principals were at liberty to go their several ways. Both were bound over to keep the peace, a great many formalities were gone through, sureties were paid, the magistrate read them a lecture, and Mr Fitzjohn longed for his breakfast. At last they were set free. Mr Farnaby and his second, both wearing the blackest of scowls, drove away in their chaise, and Peregr

ine and Mr Fitzjohn went off to Cork Street, the doctor having gone away in a hackney some time previously.

Eleven

THE SECRET OF THE DUEL WAS SOON OUT. PEREGRINE ARRIVED in Brook Street shortly after eleven o’clock to find his valet, who had given him up for lost an hour before, standing over Miss Taverner while she read her brother’s farewell letter.

‘O God!’ burst from Miss Taverner’s lips just as Peregrine walked into the room. The sheets of the letter fluttered to the ground. Miss Taverner sprang up crying: ‘I must go at once! What have they done to him? Where is Fitzjohn?’ Then she caught sight of Peregrine in the doorway, and the next instant was in his arms. ‘Perry! Oh, Perry, my darling, you are safe!’

‘Yes, yes, of course I am safe,’ said Peregrine, clumsily patting her shoulder. ‘What the devil do you mean by making all this stir, John? You fool, did I not charge you to wait until you heard from Mr Fitzjohn?’

His sister grasped the lapels of his coat. ‘Tell me at once, Peregrine, what has happened?’

‘Nothing has happened. I can tell you, I am in a pretty rage, Ju! A rare fool I am made to look! We are informed against, and I have a strong notion who laid the information!’

‘Whoever he is he has earned my undying gratitude!’ declared Judith, still shaken from the fright she had had. ‘How could you go out to fight without a word to me? Oh, how I hate the practice of duelling! How I despise all you men for thinking it a way to settle a quarrel.’

‘Stuff!’ said Peregrine, disengaging himself from her clasp. ‘As for you, John, be off to your work! You’ve meddled enough for one day! If I had dreamed the fellow was not to be trusted – but I might have known! I had no business to be taken in by him. My father warned us against his, and you may depend upon it the son is no better.’

‘Do you speak of my cousin? Is it possible that it was he who saved you from this terrible affair?’

‘Lord, Ju, don’t talk in that silly way! You don’t understand these things. Ay, it was our cousin; I am persuaded it was he. I am off to settle with him on the instant.’